Yee helps Red Storm into volleyball Sweet 16

Lena Yee has seen women's volleyball come full circle at St. John's. The '05 Moanalua graduate committed to a team that was ranked 13th in its own conference her freshman season, and lost 10 of its last 11 matches.

Just two years later, the two-time Big East libero of the year has the Red Storm in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

"It's a very special thing," Yee said. "We had high goals, but I mean, wow, Sweet 16 is awesome."

St. John's advanced by beating Long Island and Delaware on back-to-back days.

Yee combined for 21 digs and two aces and freshman Kayla Motoyama (Roosevelt '07) saw action in the Long Island match.

The Red Storm will face Southern California today in a rematch of a preseason match the Trojans won in four games.

"They beat us, but it was really good because we took a set off of them," Yee said. "We know that we can play with them. It's just that we need to keep really consistent."

Yee and Motoyama became the only local players left in the tournament after Washington was defeated by BYU in the second round.

Sophomore Tamari Miyashiro (Kalani '05) tied for a team high with 13 digs and added two aces for the Huskies. Both Miyashiro and senior Ashley Aratani (Iolani '04) played in all five games.

Aratani was recently named to the Pac-10 all-academic second team after earning honorable mention honors as a junior.

Seven teams featuring players with local ties lost in the first round.

Football

» Washington senior Wilson Afoa (Saint Louis '03) had two tackles for a loss, including a sack, in the Huskies' 35-28 loss to Hawaii.

Sophomore defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (Hawaii Prep '05) also had a sack and five solo tackles, while Jay Angotti (Punahou '06) recorded an assisted tackle.